Thursday, November 6, 2025–11:15 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The 2025 Rome International Film Festival is underway.
This year’s event features a huge lineup of films, informational sessions, and more.
Of course, there will be photo ops on the red carpet.
“There will be a red carpet every single evening of the festival,” said Leanne Hand Cook with Riff. “It always happens right before what we call the main evening film or the main evening event.”
Friday afternoon, there will be a screening of a collection of short films made by college students in Israel.
“We are so proud of our continued relationship with the creative entities in Israel,” Cook said. “It has evolved over the years that we have been together. Now, we have a group of films from students at Sapir College, and they are partnered with Georgia Highlands College. So, the students are actually coming to the festival, and the Consulate General’s Office will be represented.”
There will also be a special presentation on Saturday at 1 p.m.
“If you guys have ever seen Napoleon Dynamite, you’ve seen this woman’s writing—her name is Jerusha Hess—she will be here on Saturday,” Cook said. “She is going to be getting the Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling from Tim Blake Nelson. It’s in the middle of the day, so we encourage everyone to come out.”
You can get more information about the schedule and tickets at riffga.com.